Freeman Patterson, a recent Purdue University graduate, joins the LFA team full time as an EI (engineering intern), having passed the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam.
With an emphasis in structural engineering, the civil engineering major interned at LFA last summer and was offered full time work here in the fall of his senior year. LFA is delighted to have Patterson return to join the transportation department.
Originally, he said he chose to work for LFA because he was impressed with its project portfolio, company size and location close to his Bremen home. During his internship summer of 2022, he said he respected LFA’s smaller company size because it meant he was able to get to know the people he works with better.
His familiarity with LFA’s methodology and established working relationships with staff called him back, he said.
“It’s nice coming back to a place I have worked at,” Patterson said.
During his senior year, Patterson worked in Purdue’s Civil Laboratory as a research assistant measuring how much stress used girders from Indiana bridges could handle, testing a concrete reinforcement system.
He said he is starting at LFA working on hydrology and hydraulics around two large LFA highway projects and looks forward to learning about concrete and steel design as well as transportation engineering. After a time, he said he hopes to take the PE and possibly get his Master’s Degree.
Patterson took four weeks after graduating from college to backpack through more than 10 national parks in the western half of the U.S. starting at Badlands National Park and including highlights from Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sequoia, Big Sur, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon and his favorite, Zion.
In his spare time, Patterson enjoys biking and reading fiction. He also plays the piano and is learning how to skateboard.
Happy to have you on board, Freeman!